Genesis 21:14

12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.

13 But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”

Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.

15 When the water in the skin was gone, she left the boy under one of the bushes.

16 Then she went off and sat down nearby, about a bowshot away, for she said, “I cannot bear to watch the boy die!” And as she sat nearby, she lifted up her voice and wept.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Early in the morning, Abraham got up, took bread and a skin of water, put them on Hagar’s shoulders, and sent her away with the boy. She left and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
KJV
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
WEB
Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a container of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder; and gave her the child, and sent her away. She departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
ASV
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and [gave her] the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
DARBY
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a flask of water, and gave [it] to Hagar, putting [it] on her shoulder and the child, and sent her away. And she departed, and wandered about in the wilderness of Beer-sheba.
BLB
And Abraham rose early in the morning, and he took bread and a skin of water, and he gave [them] to Hagar, putting [them] on her shoulder, and the boy; and he sent her away. And she departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
ÅB
Da sto Abraham tidlig opp om morgenen og tok brød og en skinnsekk med vann og gav Hagar og la det på hennes skulder; han gav henne også gutten med og lot henne fare. Og hun gikk avsted og for vill i Be'erseba-ørkenen.
OTB
Tidlig neste morgen tok Abraham brød og en skinnsekk med vann og ga dem til Hagar, plasserte dem på hennes skulder, og sendte henne bort med gutten. Hun dro og vandret i ødemarken ved Beersheba.
B1930
Da stod Abraham tidlig op om morgenen og tok brød og en skinnsekk med vann og gav Hagar og la det på hennes skulder; han gav henne også gutten med og lot henne fare. Og hun gikk avsted og for vill i Be'erseba-ørkenen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references